8 hours Ago By Hilary Keyes
Whether you’re visiting Japan for the first time or have been living here for some time, some things take getting used to when it comes to Japanese traditional culture. One that comes up quite often is how to properly visit and pay one’s respects at a Japanese Shinto shrine.Who Can Visit A Japanese Shrine?The Steps of SanpaiStep 1: Bow At The GateStep 2: Purify YourselfStep 3: Visiting The HondenStep 4: Look Around The GroundsStep 5: One Last BowOverall Rules & Etiquette To RememberWho Can Visit A Japanese Shrine?© Photo by iStock: Vincent-NgShrines are open to the public and available for anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, to visit.
They’re popular destinations for tourists and residents of Japan alike. Some are UNESCO World Heritage sites and others are known for their architecture or appearances in Japanese pop culture. Some visit them to collect goshuin (shrine stamps), others for their omamori (lucky talismans).
There are countless reasons to visit a shrine, but the most important thing to remember is to be respectful of them. They are a religious site and, regardless of your personal beliefs, are sacred. If you intend to have the whole shrine experience, then learning how to perform 参拝 (sanpai; “shrine/temple visiting”) properly is important.
The Steps of SanpaiLuckily, the rules are very simple and almost identical regardless of where the shrine is located in Japan. Consider this your pocket guide to visiting a Japanese shrine, from the moment you arrive outside.Step 1: Bow At The Gate© Photo by iStock: recep-bgAs you walk up the road or sando (参道) leading to the shrine, you’ll encounter the torii (鳥居) gates.
Made from stone, concrete or vermilion lacquered wood, these shrine gates demarcate the start of a shrine’s sacred space.Stop outside this gate and bow once as deeply as you are comfortable. Some do a 45-degree angle bow, others a full bow at the waist.
According to Shinto tradition, this is how you greet the guardian deities of the shrine and ask permission to enter the grounds.Most people will follow the same rules as with sidewalks and escalators when entering a shrine: stick to the left as you enter. The secondary reason for this is that the center of the path under the torii is reserved for the shrine’s deities to walk along.
Step 2: Purify YourselfThis is the chouzuya (手水).After stepping through the gate, continue following the path toward the main building(s) of the shrine. Some shrine complexes are massive and will have a second torii gate, others have gardens or small tea huts and so on before reaching the main building or offices of the shrine itself.
As you move along, you’ll eventually come to a large, raised basin of water with a roof protecting it from the elements. This is the chouzuya (手水). Here, you symbolically purify yourself before praying at the main shrine.
Wash To Purify Your Hands & “Mouth”The ladles known as hishaku (柄杓).On or next to the chouzuya, you’ll find ladles known as hishaku (柄杓). These are typically made from metal or wood.
You’ll want to pick it up with your right hand. The order of the following steps is important and may also be displayed at the shrine. It should go like this:First, pick the hishaku up with your right hand.
Scoop a ladleful of water up, either out of the basin itself or from one of the spigots. Move a step backward and pour a little of the water onto your left palm, letting the water spill outside of the basin.Then switch the hishaku in your hands and pour some over your right hand.
Switch the hishaku back to the other hand again, pour a little water into your left hand, and touch it to your lips, but do not drink the water.If there is any water still in the ladle, tip it upwards so that the water pours down the handle, then place it back on its stand. This is a symbolic gesture of purifying the hishaku for others to use.
© Photo by iStock: FotoGraphikMost people will either shake their hands dry or dry them on a handkerchief if they have one with them. Generally speaking, you’re not meant to touch anything after purifying your hands, but if you would prefer to dry them, it’s not considered offensive to do so.Step 3: Visiting The Honden© Photo by iStock: Koshiro KiyotaThe main structure of the shrine is known as the honden (本殿), and is where the deity or deities of the shrine reside.
The interior of the honden is sacred and not accessible to the public except for during special rituals (exorcisms, for example).This is where things get more complicated. How you pray may vary depending on the size and style of the shrine.
Let’s examine the main features found at most shrines and discuss how to interact with each. The Bell© Photo by iStock: victornSome shrines have a large bell (鈴; suzu) with a thick rope hanging from the roof of the honden. If so, then take hold of the thick rope and shake it.
The bell will ring, most likely very loudly. Repeat the process a second time. This is basically done to announce your presence to the deities of the shrine.
“Think of it like ringing the doorbell,” according to a former miko-san (shrine maiden).Offering Box: Get Your Five Yen Coin Ready© Photo by iStock: MartinPragueOut front of the honden you’ll see a wooden, stone or metal box with a slatted opening on top. This is the 賽銭箱 (saisen bakko) where monetary offerings are made.
You can donate as much or as little as you like. If you’d like to wish for good fortune, though, you may want to offer a five yen coin. Five yen in Japanese is pronounced as “go-en,” which, when written with other characters, means “good luck” or “good connections.
”Bowing & Praying© Photo by iStock: bennymartyAfter ringing the bell and making your offering, bow twice towards the honden. Clap your hands twice, then clasp your hands in prayer. Press your palms together while keeping your fingers straight to form the proper gassho (合掌) praying position.
After finishing your prayer or reflecting on your visit, bow once more.In Japanese, the process of bowing, clapping, and praying at a shrine is known as “nirei, nihakushu, ichirei.” It means “two bows, two claps, one bow,” and it is a helpful way to keep track of the steps when visiting a shrine.
Step 4: Look Around The Grounds© Photo by iStock: Luthfi SyahwalOnce you’ve paid your respects at the shrine, you can walk around, look at the gardens or visit the shrine store to purchase omamori or goshuin as mentioned earlier. A few of the major shrines may even have tea houses, cafes or gift shops within their complexes, so you can sit down and rest as well.Step 5: One Last Bow© Photo by iStock: kuremoAfter you have finished viewing the shrine and its grounds and are ready to head elsewhere, walk down the same path you took into the shrine, again staying to the left.
When you reach the torii gates, walk through, then immediately turn around to face them and bow once more. This is essentially how you “say goodbye” to the shrine and its resident deities.Overall Rules & Etiquette To Remember© Photo by iStock: tdub_videoThere are many reasons to visit a shrine, so it’s important to know and follow the rules to the best of your abilities.
Whether a shrine is large or small, everyone is welcome to come in and appreciate these sacred spaces. Although we went over a step-by-step guide on how to visit a Japanese shrine, try to keep these key rules and etiquette practices in mind before you go:Be Respectful & Quiet: Shrines are sacred spaces, so avoid loud conversations, running or any disruptive behavior.Do Not Take Photos Where Prohibited: Look for signs; inner sanctuaries and certain rituals are often off-limits for photography.
No Eating, Drinking or Smoking: These activities are generally prohibited within shrine grounds unless clearly designated areas exist.Do Not Touch Sacred Objects: Avoid touching statues or altar areas unless invited to do so.Respect Ceremonies & Rituals: Don’t interrupt prayers, weddings or other religious events—observe quietly from a respectful distance.
Dress Modestly: While casual wear is accepted, avoid overly revealing or inappropriate clothing out of respect for the sacred setting.Keep Pets Away & Noise Devices Off: Animals and loud electronics should not be brought into shrine grounds unless clearly allowed. If you do want to bring a pet with you, try Atago Shrine, Musashi Mitake Shrine or Kanda Shrine.
These three shrines are not only pet-friendly but also offer special omamori for your furry friends. Just make sure they’re on a short lead and don’t forget to pick up and take home any waste.Also, if you’re looking for love, don’t forget to visit one of these places specifically dedicated to match-making shrines in Tokyo.
We hope this guide has taught you how to visit a Japanese shrine. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below..
